Doodles are among the most popular types of mixed-breed dogs, but you may not want to buy a doodle puppy.

Perhaps you don’t like the idea of mixed-breed dogs deliberately being bred.

Maybe you just don’t want a puppy.

Whatever your reason for adopting, rescuing a doodle can be a great path to doodle ownership.

Here’s what you need to know about adopting a doodle and the best doodle rescues in Michigan.

Things To Keep In Mind When Adopting A Doodle From A Rescue

There Is A Good Chance That Your Adopted Doodle Will Both Shed And Have Extensive Grooming Needs

While some mixed breed poodle-type dogs don’t shed at all, dogs that come from breeds that do shed along with a poodle, such as Labradors and golden retrievers, usually do shed to some degree.

The coat these dogs inherit is a mix between the non-shedding poodle’s coat and the high shedding breed’s coat, which means that shedding is typically some variation between these two extremes.

This coat type also tends to result in a great deal of matting if the dog isn’t groomed consistently.

Doodle coats are often more prone to matting than pure-bred poodle coats because the coat types have a tendency to mix together and mat more easily.

Doodles in the shelter system are even more likely to have a high maintenance coat that is prone to shedding than doodles you may buy from a breeder.

Many people buy a doodle thinking that the coat will be easy to maintain and that it won’t shed.

When they find that they have a dog that sheds and also mats easily, they may surrender the dog to a shelter or rescue.

Consider Fostering A Doodle From A Rescue Or Shelter

Doodles have very specific needs.

They often require a lot of coat maintenance and may need professional grooming if you can’t handle trimming their coat at home.

A combination of different breed traits means that these dogs are sometimes very high strong and sensitive, which can make them a challenge to live with and train.

It’s a very good idea to try out owning a doodle before you decide on this breed mix.

If you have never owned a doodle before, fostering is a great way to get acquainted with doodle ownership without having to commit to owning a dog right away.

Furthermore, fostering is the backbone of most rescues, enabling them to save more dogs.

By fostering, you can get to know what it’s like to own a doodle and save lives at the same time.

Many rescues also give priority to foster homes when they are considering applications to adopt a dog.

If you do fall in love with your foster dog, there is a good chance you will be able to adopt.

A Guardian Home, Retired Breeder, or Returned Doodle Is A Great Option

You may not want to buy a puppy from a breeder, but a breeder can still be very useful in helping you to find the best dog for you and your family.

At CharityPaws we never would advocate going to a breeder for a dog, and we would always suggest adopting from a rescue or shelter.

In some cases a breeder who is being shut down will have a surplus of dogs that need to be saved.

Here are a few of the ways that a breeder can help you to find your perfect dog even if you don’t want to buy a puppy from your local store:

• Guardian homes. Breeders want a lot of genetic diversity in their breeding stock and plenty of options when choosing which dogs to breed together. Because doodles are so high-maintenance, many breeders can’t house as many as they would like to breed. Guardian homes take care of a breeding dog, usually until the dog is bred a specified number of times. Then, the dog is spayed or neutered and becomes your permanent pet.
• Retired breeder. Some breeders keep all of the dogs that they breed, but others do not have room or resources to care for dogs once they are no longer suitable for breeding. Adopting a retired breeding dog is a great way to get a beautiful mature dog and give an ex-breeding dog a wonderful home.
• Returned dogs. Good breeders are always willing to take back a dog that they have sold, for any reason. Sometimes family circumstances change, other times people realize that the doodle breed is not a good fit for them. They will typically offer these dogs for adoption at a significantly discounted rate. Buying such a dog is a great way to give an adult dog a good home. Many of these dogs are quite young. The typical age of return is during a dog’s adolescence, when they may be a handful.

1.) Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect

Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect primarily rescues dogs who are being given up by their owner or breeder, so if you are looking for somewhere to surrender your dog, this may be the place for you.

Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect prides itself on creating a strict no judgment zone for people who need to find a new home for their pets.

They understand that circumstances change and that doodle ownership isn’t for everybody.

Therefore, they take owner surrenders without passing judgment on the person who is surrendering their pet because the dog is in poor health, has not had proper grooming, or for any other reason.

They also understand that while breeding doodles can seem like a great way to have fun with dogs and make a living at the same time, the reality is that this can be a very challenging pursuit that requires a lot of money for veterinary care, grooming, and caring for dogs if homes are not found.

Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect is perfectly happy to take any breeder’s surrendered dogs without judgment for how the dogs have been cared for or the condition that they are in.

Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect encourages owners or breeders to give all of the available information that they can.

They almost never refuse a dog, but knowing as much information as possible enables them to give each dog the best possible care.

They provide transport over the state of Michigan, as well as Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana.

In some circumstances they will go anywhere in the US in order to pick up a dog.

Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect ensures that every adopter fills out a contract and they follow the dog’s care for life.

All of the dogs that are taken in by Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect immediately see a licensed veterinarian who gives them an exam, vaccines, and addresses any medical needs they may have.

Each dog receives a microchip so they can be tracked if they are ever lost.

Dogs also receive mental health support.

A sensitive and people-loving breed like the doodle can become highly traumatized by being surrendered to a shelter or given up by their owners.

Many of these dogs have not received the care that they have needed for some time, which can also be extremely stressful for them.

Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect offers support with techniques like physical therapy, massage therapy, and a calm, gentle, loving environment.

Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect has both on-site and off-site training to prepare any dog to live in a home.

They have a beautiful training yard with turf that keeps coats clean and dogs happy.

Grooming is available on site.

They have a heart monitor and can also measure oxygen levels and provide basic care so that even dogs who are severely matted or traumatized can receive appropriate grooming.

When you adopt a dog from Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect you will also be given a collar, a leash, harness, seat belt, and any favorite blanket, toys, or chews the dog may have.

They train their dogs to wear a seat belt and don’t recommend a crate in the car, as this may be stressful for the dog.

Dogs can be adopted from Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect by anyone in the United States, but you are responsible for picking up your dog once it is adopted.

Simply fill out an application and you will receive a link to see available dogs.

You can view their available dogs on their Facebook page here.

You can also choose to be a member of Michigan Doodle Rescue Connect, which enables you to see dogs as they come in on the group page and have the first opportunity to apply to adopt dogs.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.michigandoodlerescueconnect.org/
• Social Media: Facebook

2.) Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue

Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue exists to rescue standard poodles, but they also are more than happy to help poodle mixes.

They pride themselves on having the knowledge as well as the experience to meet the unique needs of poodles and poodle mixes.

They are happy to take owner surrenders.

They won’t judge you for needing to surrender your poodle, whether you are an owner, a breeder, or need to surrender a poodle for some other reason.

They do ask that you disclose any information that you have about your poodle, including imperfections your poodle may have, circumstances that led to the decision to rehome, and medical conditions.

Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue rescues dogs from shelters and puppy mill situations.

These dogs have unique needs since they are often unsocialized and are in terrible condition as far as their grooming needs.

Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue is particularly well suited to handle dogs from these difficult situations because of their extensive experience with the breed and the care and grooming requirements that they have.

Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue treats each dog as if it was their own.

For this reason, they do not place dogs on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Rather, they match the specific needs and requirements of each dog to a prospective adopter.

If you are interested in adopting from Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue, fill out an application and they will consider each dog that comes in in relation to how it would do with you.

It’s best to submit an application even if you don’t see an available dog that you would like to adopt.

• They share their available dogs on their Facebook page here.

Many dogs end up being adopted before they are ever posted on the website or on social media.

If an existing application meets the needs of a dog coming in, the dog will likely be adopted by that applicant, and may never be posted as available.

• Fill out an application here.

To adopt from Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue, you must be a Michigan resident or live in a neighboring state.

You will need to meet your dog face to face and pick it up, as Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue does not transport dogs to adopters.

They warn potential adopters that it may take a long time before a poodle will be matched to your application.

However, once you are matched, you may need to respond quickly to adopt the dog since it is often imperative that dogs be placed in a new home as quickly as possible.

Every dog that goes through Michigan Standard Poodle Rescue is spayed or neutered, tested and treated for heartworms if necessary, brought up-to-date on vaccinations, and given whatever bathing & grooming is required.

Furthermore, they are treated for any medical issues that may come up.

Adoption fees vary from $300 to $450, depending on age and needs.

Senior dogs or dogs with special needs may have reduced fees or fees may be entirely waived.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Address: PO Box 1882 Bay City MI 48707
• Phone: (989) 450-4009
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.michiganstandardpoodlerescue.com/
• Social Media: Facebook

3.) Peke A Tzu Rescue

If you would like to adopt a small poodle mix, Peke A Tzu Rescue may be for you.

They specialize in the rescue of:

• Pekingese
• Shih Tzu
• Maltese
• Poodles
• Yorkies
• and mixes of these dogs

They especially focus on the rescue of special needs and senior dogs.

Many of the dogs rescued by Peke A Tzu Rescue are at risk of being euthanized at shelters due to their medical or behavioral conditions.

Peke A Tzu Rescue also takes owner surrenders and rescues many dogs that were used for breeding, including puppy mill situations.

Many of the dogs that come into their care are neither house nor leash trained.

When dogs arrive, they are immediately seen by a veterinarian.

Once their medical needs are met, Peke A Tzu Rescue strives to meet their emotional needs.

Each one is loved and shown that they are special and safe.

They are never scolded for potty mistakes or any other issues with their behavior.

Peke A Tzu Rescue emphasizes that some of the dogs they adopt out may never be fully potty-trained and may have lasting behavioral issues.

Small breed dogs are particularly difficult to potty train and many of these dogs may have medical issues that make this even more difficult.

However, Peke A Tzu Rescue will be perfectly open with you about any issues dogs may have before they are adopted out.

Peke A Tzu Rescue rarely turns away a dog, even if they may have serious medical conditions.

Sometimes dogs die before they can even be put up for adoption.

Peke A Tzu Rescue strives to provide the best possible care for each dog, whether or not they can ever be available for adoption.

Peke A Tzu Rescue maintains a number of different dogs as permanent or semi-permanent foster dogs since they cannot be placed up for adoption safely.

Some of these dogs are unpredictable or aggressive, others have significant disabilities.

Peke A Tzu Rescue is grateful for any donations that can be given to maintain the care of these special dogs.

Peke A Tzu Rescue emphasizes that rescuing special needs and senior dogs comes with particular financial ramifications.

They may spend over $2,000 per dog to provide the vet care that they need.

However, they only ask adoption fees starting at $300.

Often, dogs are available for reduced prices depending on age and medical requirements.

Peke A Tzu Rescue considers each of the dogs in their care a member of their own family, and have stringent adoption requirements.

They require a notarized contract and agreement that requires adopters to return the dog to the rescue if they cannot continue to care for it for any reason.

They will not adopt dogs into homes with children that are under 10 years of age or into homes in which the adult is planning to have children within a few years.

They will also not adopt dogs into a home with an existing dog that weighs more than 30 lbs since a disagreement between the two dogs could be lethal for the small dog from Peke A Tzu Rescue.

It is very important to thoroughly read the entire application and requirements before putting in your application with Peke A Tzu Rescue.

You can view their available dogs for adoption here.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Address: PO Box 1 Trufant MI 49347
• Phone: (616) 984-6292
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.pekeatzurescue.com/
• Social Media: Facebook

4.) MARL Michigan Animal Rescue League

MARL Michigan Animal Rescue League rescues many different kinds of dogs, not just doodles, but at any given time there is a good chance that you will see a poodle mix available at their rescue.

This is one of the most well-established animal shelters in Michigan, having served the community since 1953.

They provide significant care to each dog that comes into their rescue, which makes them well-suited to the unique needs of poodle mixes.

They offer state-of-the-art medical care, behavioral support and socialization, as well as a sanctuary in which animals can be cared for until they are adopted.

They know that waiting at a shelter environment can result in serious degradation of an animal’s medical and behavioral state, which is why they provide a lot more than food and water to their shelter animals.

Each dog gets time for exercise, snuggles, and quality time with dedicated caregivers.

This makes MARL Michigan Animal Rescue League especially well-suited to caring for dogs that may have come from a neglectful or an abusive situation as is often true of poodle mixes in the shelter system.

MARL Michigan Animal Rescue League often accepts dogs that have been turned away from other shelters or face euthanasia.

This includes dogs that are sick or injured or have behavioral issues.

They offer an extensive enrichment program to keep dogs happy and healthy while in their care.

They never euthanize for space, but may sometimes need to euthanize dogs that have severe behavioral issues like serious aggression or that have medical issues that cannot be solved to such a degree as to give the dog a good quality of life.

MARL Michigan Animal Rescue League is willing to take owner surrenders, including dogs that owners may otherwise have a difficult time finding a home for.

For this reason, they may end up with doodles that are poorly socialized, severely matted, or have other issues.

When you adopt from MARL Michigan Animal Rescue League, you can be confident that you are making a difference in the life of an animal.

You can also have some confidence that you know what you’re getting, which is something that can be difficult to find in rescue.

MARL Michigan Animal Rescue League will disclose to you any behavioral or medical concerns and be completely honest and straightforward with you about the dog that you are considering.

MARL Michigan Animal Rescue League depends on a robust volunteer program, so even if you are not ready to adopt, you can find lots of ways to help.

They offer many different ways to donate and also have special programs for volunteering, like their program in which you can read to rescues, which can be very beneficial for dogs or cats that are stressed.

• View their available dogs for adoption here.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Address: 790 Featherstone, Pontiac, MI 48342
• Phone: (248) 335-9290
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://marleague.org/
• Social Media: YouTube

5.) Underdog Rescue

Underdog Rescue is an all breed rescue, but they often have poodle mixes available.

It was founded in 2000 by Shannon McKenzie.

The majority of the dogs rescued by Underdog Rescue are taken out of shelters, but the rescue is also willing to take owner surrenders under certain circumstances.

They are willing to take dogs with serious behavioral needs, but sometimes only with notes from a trainer that the dog has seen recently.

These behaviors include human aggression, serious separation anxiety, and animal aggression such as in dogs that must be the only animal in the home.

Underdog Rescue won’t accept animals that have a multiple bite history or have been declared a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog by the county.

You must also submit medical records and photos.

Once a foster home is found that meets your dog’s specific needs, you will be contacted.

This rescue is foster-based, with dogs being placed in foster homes until they are ready to be adopted.

Underdog Rescue doesn’t have a facility to hold dogs, so they are dependent on fosters to keep dogs until they are adopted.

When a dog is taken in by Underdog Rescue, they are examined by their veterinary partners and placed into an appropriate foster home.

By the time a dog is ready to be adopted out from Underdog Rescue, the rescue will have learned a great deal about their temperament, behavior, current training, and any special needs they may have.

Underdog Rescue carefully screens potential adopters to ensure that they are a perfect match for the dog they want to adopt.

If you are not yet sure whether you are ready to adopt, fostering with Underdog Rescue is a superb way to become accustomed to doodle ownership and decide whether this breed is right for you.

You can also foster other breeds to decide whether you would rather have a dog with fewer grooming needs.

View their available dogs for adoption here.

Rescue and Adoption Details

• Address: PO Box 16453 St. Louis Park MN 55416
• Website: https://underdogrescuemn.com/
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Adopt Your Perfect Doodle From A Doodle Rescue In Michigan

Adoption is a great way to find the right doodle for you.

It can take some time for you to be approved to adopt and to find the perfect dog for you, but by starting the process with one or more of these great rescues, you have an excellent chance of finding a wonderful doodle that meets your needs.